Summary
Based on a novel of the same name by Miloslav Nohejl, this 1987 historical drama from director Jiří Svoboda takes its audience back to the Czech borderlands of 1938. The film tells the story of postal official Tomáš Jakl (Emil Horváth Jr.) and his marriage to wealthy woman Viola (Petronela Vančíková). Their relationship is far from happy, and the snooty locals want nothing to do with this “interloper”. With the help of friend Jindřich Křemen – a functionary of the Sudeten German Party – Tomáš decides to try to build a better career for himself. But normal friendships increasingly fall victim to the pressures of these dark times. The part of the malevolent Křemen goes to Milan Kňažko, who thanks to his expressive acting style was utilised by director Svoboda in his subsequent films – Zánik samoty Berhof (The Downfall of the Secluded Berhof, 1983), Papilio (1986) and Jen o rodinných záležitostech (Family Matters, 1990). Tomáš’s love interest, teacher Jiřina, is played by Magda Vášáryová.
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